We would like your perspective on the future of ADPSR!
November 1, 2019
To the ADPSR community:
We would like your perspective on the future of ADPSR! Please respond by November 18th.
Background and current situation:
We are a venerable organization and for over thirty-five years have been a pillar of the movement for a far more equitable society and a sustainable environment. We’ve had an impact on questions ranging from the arms race and nuclear proliferation, to the cruelties of the prison-industrial complex, to the ravaged landscape and atmosphere, to reducing the environmental impacts of buildings, to the ethical challenges of the AIA. The board is concerned that ADPSR, as currently structured and with its current level of participation, has grown fatigued and that it’s time for an exciting next step.
Options on the table:
Regenerate: ADPSR with new board members, multiple clear projects, and an infusion of young people. This proposal is an opportunity to build on the long-standing legacy of ADPSR and address the urgent issues of climate change, social justice, and other pathways to equity in the built environment. ADPSR, with its large member base and respected history, has the ability to bring our unique design capacities to make a big impact. ADPSR has regenerated itself to address critical issues over the past few decades and could do it again.
Merge: Another option, is to merge with the Architecture Lobby (architecture-lobby.org), to bring together ADPSR’s spirt of conscience with their youthful activism. Some of ADPSR’s recent activities have been conducted jointly with the Architecture Lobby: both our statement earlier this year calling for a boycott of the design of immigrant detention facilities, and our statement last year calling for AIA to oppose the border wall. Like ADPSR, the Architecture Lobby is a membership organization for people in the design professions, primarily architects, that conducts organizing and advocates for what members believe in.
We also believe that there are other organizations that could support a possible merger and we would like to hear your thoughts and ideas. This proposal is an opportunity to join two or more organizations with overlapping visions into a whole that would, hopefully, be able to accomplish more together than any would alone.
What we need from you.
In a board meeting earlier this month, it was agreed that such a big step (whatever it turns out to be) requires involvement of our membership as a whole. This letter is written to personally invite you to:
Let us know what you think about these possibilities
Suggest alternatives or
Let us know if you would like to join the board with an issue or initiative.
Please be as specific as you like, and we would especially welcome commitments for specific actions each of you is willing to take.
Please send your comments to Kelly at info@adpsr.org by November 18th 2019.
With Solidarity,
The ADPSR Board